The things people tell you about college: you find your people, it’s the best years of your life and it’s hard. The things no one tells you about college: you learn a lot about yourself, the food sucks and high school does not matter.

I thought I had realistic expectations for college after having friends and siblings go to college years before me. But I was wrong. College is what you decide it is. You can either make the most of it, or you can struggle through and be that awkward freshman.

It’s true: you find your people. When I decided to enroll in Barrett, The Honors College, I solely did it for academic reasons. But once I got here, I learned that these Barrett kids really are my people. They enjoy learning, they do their homework, they are all nerds! So, for all you seniors out there, making friends really is the easiest part of college. (But it’s also the scariest part)

I’ve been told these will be the best years of my life, but I cannot testify to that now. But It does seem like I’m on that track.

I’m an honors students and I still do not feel like freshman year is hard. Classes are simple, mostly stuff you will learn before you graduate college. The hardest part of college is now having to handle everything on top of school. You have to go grocery shopping. You have to find a job. You have to make time for friends. You have to call your mom. And then you have to do homework. That’s the hard part.

And here’s the last thing: no one wants to tell the homecoming queen or the valedictorian high school doesn’t matter. I was the Editor-in-Chief, the Salutatorian and varsity soccer captain. But when you get to college, the only thing that matters is that you LIKE journalism, reading and soccer. Those titles and all that work you put in during high school really means nothing. I was shocked when my professor advised us all to leave all that ‘high school crap’ off our resumes. It literally means nothing. — Tynin Fries

But let’s move on to the stuff no one tells you. First off, you will learn more about yourself in the first few weeks of college than you did all of senior year. I may have thought my biggest fear was spiders, but now that I’m here, I know that my real biggest fear is having a bad roommate. I may have liked eggs, but then I look at the ones in the dining hall and I’ve completely changed. Granted these are silly examples, but it gets deep too.

Also, the food sucks. Even if you go to the fanciest college in the world, the food will suck. No way around that one. Just start preparing your stomach for ramen now. The sodium levels are unreal here.

And here’s the last thing: no one wants to tell the homecoming queen or the valedictorian high school doesn’t matter. I was the Editor-in-Chief, the Salutatorian and varsity soccer captain. But when you get to college, the only thing that matters is that you LIKE journalism, reading and soccer. Those titles and all that work you put in during high school really means nothing. I was shocked when my professor advised us all to leave all that ‘high school crap’ off our resumes. It literally means nothing.

Reality check: you are at the bottom now. So seniors, do not think college is crazy and scary. It is. But it’s so much more than that too. After you’re forced to realize high school doesn’t matter, you’ll accept it and thrive more than you ever have. You’ll make friends and create a whole new life for yourself.

Follow @TyninFries.

For more opinions, read the Dec. 2 article, COLUMN: The American illusion; justice for all.